A windmill company based in San Angelo has been making windmills since 1888 โ and the family of Panhandle windmiller Mike Crowell has been in the business of fixing the machines nearly as long.
water supply
SLIDESHOW: Texas Windmills โ and Windmillers
Windmilling โ the art of fixing old water windmills โ is difficult and dangerous work, and now it faces competition from solar pumps. But long-time windmillers in the Panhandle wouldn’t trade their job for any other.
In the Panhandle, the Dying Art of Windmilling Hangs On โ For Now
Thousands of windmills still exist in remote Texas pastures, pumping water from aquifers for cattle to drink. But the dwinding group of men who sell and fix windmills face hard times due to the drought and competition from solar pumps.
Drought’s Economic Impact Spreading From Rural to Urban Areas
Despite the record dry stretch, most Texans are still far from running out of water. But the drought’s economic impact is beginning to extend beyond agriculture and into tourism, real estate and other staples of urban economies.
Prop 2 Would Help Fund Water-Supply Projects
On Nov. 8, Texans will vote on 10 constitutional amendments. Erika Aguilar of KUT News has a look at Proposition 2, which would allow the state to issue up to $6 billion in bonds for water infrastructure projects across Texas.
Ballot Initiative Would Improve Water, Lower Property Taxes
An amendment to the Texas Constitution on the ballot next month will lower property taxes for landowners who practice good water stewardship. It received unanimous backing in the Legislature.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Hamilton on efforts to boost faculty productivity, Grissom on newly uncovered evidence in an old murder case, Galbraith on a wind-powered construction boom, Dehn unfurls the new Texas Tribune Weekend Insider, Aguilar on this year’s record number of deportations, Ramshaw and Tan on budget cuts and cervical cancer screenings, M. Smith on local control over student grades, Root and Ramshaw on Rick Perry’s latest debate performance, Philpott on an issue that didn’t get its due in that debate and Titus and Murphy on fundraising and spending in congressional races: The best of our best content from October 17 to 21, 2011.
New Federal Forecast Says Drought Likely to Worsen Over Winter
While already-sodden northern regions of the United States can prepare for above-average rains this winter, the worst one-year drought in Texas history looks set to persist, according to a federal winter forecast released today.
Parched Western States Looking to Perry’s Water Record
You won’t hear about the water problems out West during the GOP presidential debate, but as Ben Philpott reports for KUT News and the Texas Tribune, the problems are there โ and the next President could play a role in the solutions.
Dewhurst Tells Senate Committees to Study Drought, Wildfires
State Senate committees will soon begin studying the impact of drought on power generation, agriculture and the economy, along with how to improve Texas’ response to wildfires, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced today.

